6 Thoughts
1) Ground out, just ground the heck out by a big, tough, professional basketball team. The Heat tried to scrap but got hammered 51-35 on the boards, and it was too much.
2) Too. Much. Yao. It wasn't just the 28 and 12, it was also outstanding passing. 4 assists, but even more plays where he kicked the ball out, an extra pass was made against the rotation and led to an open shot. It would have been 38 and 12 if the Big Chinaman had been able to make a layup when absorbing anything greater than a brush on the arm - don't be afraid to dunk the ball, Old Yella. Former Heat great Wang Zhi Zhi, Yao, and Yi may be a small sample size for a country with approximately a billion people in it, but these Chinese can't finish plays around the rim. Until they do, I'm not taking this country seriously - I honestly don't think we need anything more than Hillary Clinton to handle them.
3) Finally Wade was human. Bad night shooting, didn't make a lot of plays. Looked worn out. It happens.
4) Best shooting game for Emcee Chalmers, finishing with 5 threes and 23 points. Of course, the problem is that he is always open because nobody is playing him on the perimeter, because they are loading up in the lane against Wade. If he continues to progress as a shooter, it will be a big help to the team. He has a nice stroke - it is good to see it go in for a game.
5) Out west for the holidays, 5 games in the next 10 days. At 7-7, these are the tough trips on which a couple of wins need to be ground out, against bigger, and often better, opponents. Lose 4 out 5 (or worse) on this type of trip, and it is difficult to make the ground back up. It is a tall order for a team starting two rookies. It is worth mentioning the last team to start two rookie in its first 14 games? The 2000 Nets (Kenyon Martin and Stephen Jackson). Also - not only have the Heat done it this year, so have the Grizzlies (Marc Gasol and OJ Mayo).
6) Heard the Dire Straits song "Walk of Life" in the grocery store this evening. The Captain and I were talking about the Steve Miller song "Abracadabra" today and wondering if it was the worst rock song made in the 80s - but I think we just answered our own question. "Walk of Life" is rock music for people who hate rock music.
Political Commentary
I just saw the entire video where Sarah Palin was killing turkeys. Forget Sarah Palin - Jesus, is that how we kill turkeys? By shoving them in to a motorized funnel-blender? Really? I am supposed to eat that? Did you see the guy helping her, with a a grungy beard, blood all over him, and a mullet? And the way he was looking hungrily at the governor while blood was spraying all over his pants? I think we all just entered that guy's greatest fantasy for a couple of interminable minutes. I feel like I have learned more about Alaska these past few months than I ever wanted to know. Count me out for the 25th anniversary cruise to see the glaciers. And I think I am sticking to the mashed potatoes and pies this year at Thanksgiving.
